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Netflix’s plan to buy Warner Bros has triggered criticism from the Writers Guild and prompted US President Donald Trump to warn that the scale of the proposed $72bn deal may create competition concerns.
The Writers Guild of America West said the acquisition would allow the world’s largest streaming business to absorb a significant rival and argued that the implications for workers and audiences could be severe.
In a statement the union, which represents writers of motion pictures, television, radio, and internet programming, including news and documentaries, said: "The world’s largest streaming company swallowing one of its biggest competitors is what anti-trust laws were designed to prevent."
Writers warn of job losses and content squeeze
The union also warned that the so-called megadeal would "eliminate jobs, push down wages, worsen conditions for all entertainment workers, raise prices for consumers, and reduce the volume and diversity of content for all viewers."
"Industry workers along with the public are already impacted by only a few powerful companies maintaining tight control over what consumers can watch on television, on streaming, and in theaters," it said. "This merger must be blocked."
The two companies announced on Friday that they had reached an agreement that would bring well-known Warner Bros franchises, including Harry Potter and Game of Thrones, to Netflix.
The arrangement would create one of the largest entertainment groups in the sector once completed. Some concerns have already surfaced in the film and television world, and the transaction will still require approval from competition regulators before any changes take effect.
White House flags antitrust issues
At an event in Washington DC, Trump said Netflix has a “big market share” and suggested that the combined size of the organisations “could be a problem.” He added that the company’s reach is “very big” and would “go up by a lot” if the merger proceeds. Trump also said he intended to be personally involved in any final decision on approval, drawing attention once again to the scale of Netflix’s subscriber base.
The Justice Department’s competition unit will be responsible for reviewing the deal. Officials could determine that the merger contravenes anti-trust rules if they conclude that the merged entity would control too much of the streaming market.
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Netflix, founded in 1997 as a DVD-by-post service, has evolved into the world’s largest subscription streaming platform. The proposed deal would be one of the most significant transactions seen in the film industry in years and would strengthen Netflix’s position further if approved. Under the agreement, franchises such as Looney Tunes, The Matrix and Lord of the Rings would shift to the streaming service.
The companies have said the deal is expected to close once Warner Bros completes a planned business separation, targeted for the second half of 2026.
